New whitefly warning for South Florida

The rugose spiraling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin) was collected from gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) in Miami-Dade County by FDACS DPI inspector Olga Garcia on March 11, 2009. Since its initial discovery, the whitefly has become a problem pest in South Florida.

The plants most seriously affected are gumbo limbo and palms, especially coconut, as well as avocado, Florida black olive and Calophyllum species. Infestations can become extremely dense, with almost complete coverage of the ventral leaf surface by multiple generations of whiteflies. Adults are small and gnat-like and take flight easily, appearing as clouds around the foliage. Frequently, the distinctive egg spirals are seen on leaves, but with no developing larvae or pupae on the plant. As has been observed with other pest insect species, their numbers can become so great that females are forced to lay their eggs on nearly any surface, including plant species that are not suitable for further larval development.

Get more information and view photos here: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/pest-alerts/pdf/aleurodicus-rugioperculatus-pest-alert.pdf